Waynesboro's building code nixed

Waynesboro Borough Council voted Wednesday night to eliminate the use of a local building code.

Denise Bonura

Waynesboro Borough Council voted Wednesday night to eliminate the use of a local building code.

Council members discussed the issue at a workshop to determine the best way to handle complaints from local contractors regarding various permits the code required for electrical and plumbing work in one- and two-family homes.

Since council decided to stop using the code, Councilman Ronnie Martin retracted a previous motion to allow a second inspection agency to work in the borough. He motioned to keep Accredited Services Inc. as the borough’s building code official and not have borough employees certified at this time.

“It will help streamline things,” Martin said.

The motion passed with a 5-1 vote. Martin, president Craig Newcomer, vice president C. Harold Mumma and councilmen Ben Greenawalt and Jason Stains voted in favor. However, Newcomer and Mumma expressed some concerns about inexperienced residents rewiring homes and possible fire hazards. Charles “Chip” McCammon cast the only dissenting vote.

Permits and inspections are now only needed for a change in structure and a change in egress in one- and two-family homes.

“Starting today you will only need a permit for structural changes whether you cut a hole in a wall or build a wall or replace wood on a roof,” explained Cermak. “You also need a permit and inspection when you change egress — or when you change the entrances or exits to your home and/or the routes to them.”

The new guidelines only apply to one- and two-family homes. Commercial building codes, which include apartment buildings, will remain the same.

“This will make my job easier because we don’t have to enforce two different codes,” Cermak said. “It will mean a decline in permits, but less complaints.”

The old code

The borough was still using BOCA 96, a code that required different permits for electrical and plumbing work in one- and two-family homes. The state established a Uniform Construction Code in 2003, but individual municipalities were to continue using existing codes.

“The UCC is the minimum building code,” explained Mike Cermak Sr., president of Accredited Services Inc. “If the municipality already had a code, they were to continue using it. Waynesboro had a code and it was automatically kept in place.”

The BOCA code requires permits and inspections for all plumbing and electrical work in one- and two-family homes in the borough. The UCC does not require permits or inspections for any plumbing or electrical work in the homes.

Paul McCarney has operated a heating and cooling business in Waynesboro for the past 20 years. He said he was lobbying for the borough to eliminate the BOCA code because a lot of the required permits were considered “nuisance permits” among contractors.

“The BOCA code requires permits to install furnaces,” he explained. “This is stuff we’ve (contractors) been doing for years and years and now we need a permit for them. Some contractors weren’t aware they needed these permits.”

He said it is hard for Accredited Services Inc. to enforce the permits and inspections unless he catches the person in the act. He added he has lost several jobs recently because he had to charge an extra $50 to $100 for permits and inspections.

Cermak said he wanted to compromise. He feels that individuals who are not certified through the state to do the work should be required to purchase permits and schedule inspections.

“People who are registered with the state shouldn’t need permits,” he added.

Martin said he did not want to complicate things and just wanted to “keep it clean.”

Concerns

Newcomer and Mumma are concerned about the changes in the electrical inspections. One attendee said Washington Township does not require the permits and there doesn’t seem to be a problem there.

“We have buildings right next to each other here,” countered Newcomer. “We’re not spread out like in the township. So you could have one guy replacing wiring and there’s a fire then three houses catch fire.”

Mumma said he wished a member of the fire department could have attended the meeting to voice their concerns.

“I’ve just got a feeling it’s going to come back and haunt us,” he said.

Martin countered the same problems could arise even with a permit and inspection.

Dan Sheffler, the borough’s zoning and code enforcement officer, said he deals cautiously when it comes to electrical work.

“I stay away from it,” he said. “I have seen Joe Schmoes that think they are electricians. I don’t think anything should be done without a permit and inspection.”

McCarney said “Joe Schmo” is still going to do the work even if a permit is in place.

Newcomer said residents who want to do anything to their homes should do the responsible thing and call Accredited Services beforehand to make sure what they need permits for.

Fire Marshal Jerry Hartman said he was not prepared to comment on the matter until he got more information. He was on vacation when the meeting was held.

On the Net

www.waynesboropa.org

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